Look mom; I'm still alive!! :)

Hello from my 12-over-layover in London!
I must say, I am much better with hellos than goodbyes. In the past week I've said goodbye to many close friends graduating from Baylor next week, goodbye to a junior year full of hard work, stress and the best friends. Goodbye to America and all of its comforts... especially text messaging! My last goodbye went to my parents who, I must say, kept it together much better than I expected. :)

Strangely enough, I think that my goodbyes at the end of my trip will be even more difficult than the last week because my "African goodbyes" will most likely be real "goodbyes" rather than "seeya laters." I hope that I am prepared to say goodbye to the orphans whenever I leave Rehoboth or if they leave first.

On to hellos..

Thankfully all of my travels have gone without a hitch (so far)! I've had no delays, all aisle seats and friendly seat buddies. You'll be so glad to know, Mom, that I ended up sitting with a 25-year-old girl from London, named Kylie, who pulled up a map of the "tube" on her iPhone, gave me tips and directions as well as her phone number and email adderss in case I needed her help throughout my day here in the UK.

As for today, I am just mozying (sp?) around the city with no particular plan. I overpaid for a one-day tube pass so I intend to use it. After riding for an hour or so I picked "green park" as my first stop mainly cause I wanted to spend time at a green park. Just as I thought, I found one and enjoyed the crisp spring morning in a beautiful park surrounded by old British buildings.

I rarely (never) have time to doddle around back in the US so I thought I'd "seize the day" by sitting back. All around me people and taxis were speeding off to work but I just sat, still, on a bench. Reminds me of one of my favorite Psalms:

"I wait for you, O LORD; I lift up my soul to my God. In you I trust; do not let me be disgraced. . . Make known to me your ways, LORD; teach my your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. For you I wait all the long day, because of your goodness, LORD; for they are ages old. . . Let honesty and virtue preserve me; I wait for you, O LORD. . ." -Psalm 25

So from here, I have a flight at 7:05pm from London to Johannesburg (that's 11 hours long...), then my last flight to Durban where my hosts will pick me up and drive another three hours to Rehoboth which will be my home for the next 90 days.

Thank you all for your prayers. I am so blessed and looking forward to saying hello again in August.

Until more wifi,
-Brigid